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Deputy Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Mathias Tongofa

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THE absence of manufacturing industries in Plumtree Town is affecting profitability of businesses who incur heavy costs in transporting commodities from major cities and across the border. Discussing during a business expo held in the border town at the weekend, the business community in Plumtree said there was a need to set up local industries that would supply them and cut costs.

The exhibitors told the Deputy Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Mathias Tongofa, that travelling to Bulawayo and Botswana to purchase goods was suffocating their operations.

A shoe manufacturer based in the town, Temba Nyoni, said the town did not have appropriate raw materials needed to make shoes. “As a result, I’ve to travel to Bulawayo which is very costly. At the end of the day I’m forced to undercharge my products because when I don’t people start complaining of high prices.”

Orpha Donga of Niopa Decorations said establishing industries in the town would boost existing businesses and create jobs for many. “The business community here needs supply of raw materials within the town so they would realise profits. Once an industrial area is established, products would attract travellers that pass through the town,” she said.

Plumtree Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises chair Danny Nyathi said a number of entrepreneurs were running backyard industries because of lack of space.

The business expo ran on Friday and Saturday under the theme “Unity for Sustainable Economic Transformation”.
Deputy Minister Tongafa urged the business community to expand their operations and described the event as a good marketing platform for local products. “I hope after this expo the business community will reap benefits and spread their operations through exploring new opportunities availed to them by this forum,” he said.

The chairperson of the event’s coordinating committee, Ikanyeng Godzi, said 40 businesses participated.